Rotary engine.



No. 866,031. PATENTED SEPT. 1'7, 1907.

W. H. HOOKER.

ROTARY ENGINE.

AYPLIOATION FILED APR. e. 1901.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1*? with/eases No. 866,031. PATENTEO SEPT. 17, 1907. w. E. HOOKER. ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED APB..6, 1907. 55 24HETSZS`H5B5ET 2 Eg, 55 fig. .sa '3536 u `2 3035;., 55

A l' l// f a 25 ,/7/ l WW@ "l I 53 414/ y ZU ZTI-7166565 WILLIAM H. HOOKER, F MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

ROTARY ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 1'?, 1907.

Application filed April 6,1967. Serial No. 366,667.

To all whomz't may concermj Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. HOOKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Manchester, in the county of Hillsboro and State of New Hampshire, 'have invented new and useful Improvements in Rotary Engines, of which the following is a-specification. i

This invention relates to that class of fluid pressure engines known as rotary engines, and the object is to provide an engine of the character described which shall be simple, efficient, and economical, the same being adapted to the use of either an expansive ora non- V expansive agent,` and the object is still further to pro` vide an engine which will start from any position and in which the torque on the driving shaft is continuous when the engine is in operation.

The invention consists inthe combination and ar-v rangement of parts set forth in the following specification and particularly pointed out in the claims thereof.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved rotary engine. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same with the steam chest removed, the left hand inlet port being open. Fig. 3 is a plan View similar to Fig. 2, the right hand inlet port being open. Fig. 4 is a section, partly in elevation, taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2, the valve chest and valve gear being shown in place. Fig. 5 is a section, partly in elevation, taken on line 5 5 of 1, looking toward the right. Fig. 6 is a section, partly in' elevation, taken on line 6-6 of Fig.

i l, looking toward the right. Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail vso perspective view of the slide on which the inlet valve *is mounted. Fig. 8 is a development of the can for actuating the cut-off.valve. Fig. 9 isa detail plan view of the engine, partly broken away to save space, showing the cut-off valve gear. Fig. 10- is a detail plan section, partly broken away, taken on line 10-10 of Eig. 1.

Like numerals referto likeparts throughout the several views ofthe drawings.

In the drawings, lQ/is a casing provided with two cylindrical piston chambers 11 and 12 located on opposite sides, respectively, thereof, there being cover plates 13 and 14 bolted to opposite sides, respectively, of said casing. Located within the piston chamber 11 is a rotary piston 15 while a similar rotary piston 16 is located I within the piston chamber 1 2. Anexhaust passage 17 formed in the casing 10 is connected to the piston` chambers 11 and 12. The rotary piston 15 is provided with a projection 18 extending from the periphery thereof,A

said' projection 18 being provided with suitable packing blades19 and 20, while thepistonl is provided with a projection 21 extending from its periphery, said projec- Vtion 21 being provided with suitable packing blades 22 and 23. The pistonsl and lare keyed to a shaft 24,

said shaft being journaled in the cover plates 13 and ,14,

there being two cams 25 and 26 fast'to said shaft on oppo-v site sides, respectively, of the casing 1Q. The cam -25is 'adapted to impart an intermittent reciprocatory move.

ment to two valve slides 27 and 28, there being an admission valve 2 9fast to the slide 27, said admission valve 29 being adapted to admit fluid to the pistonv chambers 11 and 12' alternately.

A valve chest 30 forming a part of the casing 10 is provided with a valve chamber 3l formed therein, in which the admission valve 29 is adapted to be reciprocated and an inlet pipe 32 is adapted to convey fluid to the valve chamber 31, said fluid being steam, water, air, or the like, as may be desired. A guide block 33 formed on the slide"27 is located in a recess 34 formed in the valve chest 30, while a like projection 35 formed on the slide 428 is located in arecess 36 formed in saidvalve chest, there being a thin wall of metal'separating said recesses. An oil hole 37 is adapted to admit and are arranged to yield relatively thereto, there being springs 43 and 44 interposed between the abutments 4l and 42, respectively, and the slide 27. Two abut- 'ments 45 Aand 46 are yieldingly mounted on the slide 28,

there being springs 47'and 48 interposed between said abutments, respectively,rand said slide. The springs 43, 44, 47 and 48 act to press their respective abutments downwardly against the peripheries of the rotary pistons 15 and 16, thereby preventing leakage of steam I between the peripheries of said pistons and their respective abutments. As the pistons 15 and 16 become worn, said springs take up the wear and thus always prevent leakage of steam. vWhen the valve slide 27 is reciprocated by the cam 25, the abutments 41 and 42 are moved into and out of the paths of the projections 18 and 21, respectively, it being understood that when the abutment 41 'is moved into contact with the periphery ofthe piston 15, theabutment 42 is moved mit of contact with the periphery of the piston 16 and vice versa. In like manner whenthe valve slide 28 is reciprocated by the cam 25, Vthe abutments 45 and 46 are moved into and out of the paths of the projections 18 and 2l, respectively, it being' understood that when the abutment 45 is moved into contact with the periphery of the piston 15, the abutment 46 is moved out of Contact with the periphery of the piston 16 and vice` versa. It will be seen that the abwtments 41 and 42 act asonepair and the abutments 45 and 46 act as another p'air, each of said pairs being movable independ-V ently of the other of said pairs and that the cam 25 acts` Acut-off valve 53 toward the left, thereby. moving of the piston 15 pass into a recess 49 formed in the cover plate 13 and in like manner the abutments 42 and 46 when moved out of engagement with the periphery of the piston 16 pass into a recess 50 formed in the cover plate 14. When the abutments 41 and 45 are in their extreme right hand position, the left hand side of each of said abutments is still in engagement with the recess 49 and the right hand side of each of said abutments is in engagement with a shallow recess 51. Similarly, when the abutments 42 and 4 6 are in their extreme left hand position, the right hand side of each of said abutments is still in engagement with the recess 50 and the left hand side oi each of said abutments is in engagement lwith/a shallow recess 52. By reason of this construction leakage of iluid past the sides of said abutments is thus effectually prevented.

A cut-ofi valve 53 provided with a port 54 is slidably mounted in the valve chest 30 and is adapted to be reciprocated to move said port into and out of alinement with an inlet passage 55 connected to an inlet pipe 56. A head 57 rotatably mounted on the cut-ofi valve slide 53 has a pinion 58 formed thereon, said pinion meshing into a rack 59. The rack 59 is slidably mounted inguides 60 and 61 fast to the casing 10` By reciprocating the rack 59 the head 57 may be rocked on the cut-off valve slide 53. Two cam rolls 62 and 63 rotatably mounted on the head 57 with their axes lying in planesat substantially right angles to each other are adapted to engage cam grooves 64 and 65, respectively, said cam grooves being formed in the cam 26 A spring 66 bearing at one end against a lug 67 formed on the cut-ori valve 53 and at the other end against a shoulder 68 is adapted to move said valve toward the right, Fig. 10.

The pinion 58 is of such width ol' lace that it remains at all times in mesh with the rack 59 during the reciprocations of the cut-ofi valve slide 53. AThe metal [orming the bottom of the recess 49 is beveled downwardly at 69 and the metal forming the bottom oi the recess 50 is beveled downwardly at 70, as shown in Fig. 4. The bottom of the recess 51 is lower than the bottom of the recess 49 and similarly the bottom of the recess 52 is lower than the bottom of the recess 50. By reason of` the bevels 69 and 70 and the location of the bottoms ot' the recesses 51 and 52 as above described, the abutments 41, 42, 45 and 46 are free to be pressed into close Contact with the peripheries of their respective pistons.

The operation of the engine hereinbeiore specifically described is as follows: Assuming the parts to be in the position shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 9 and 10, steam or other iluidlis admitted vthrough the inlet pipe 32, inlet passage 55 and the recess 31, and said fluid being under pressure acts against the projection 18, thus rotating the piston 15 and shaft 24 in the direction of the arrows, Figs. 5 and 6. When said piston has been rotated 90 the cam groove 64 acting on the cam roll 62 moves the the port 54 out of alinement with the passage 55 and shutting oft the supply of steam from the chamber 31. The steam thus imprisoned in the chamber 12 expands and continues to drive the piston 15 in the direction of the arrows, Figs. 5 and 6, until the projection 18 has passed the exhaust passage 17, it being understood that the exhaust steam passes outwardly therethrough. In the meantime, during the latter part of the second 90 o rotation of the shaft 24, the cam 25 has acted to move the slide 28 toward the left, thereby moving the abutment 45 out of contact with the periphery of the piston 15 and moving the abutment 46 into contact with the periphery of the piston 16. Before the projection 18 has passed the exhaustpassage 17 the cam 25 has acted Vto'move the slide 27 toward the left so that the inlet valve 29 has4 begun to admit steam to the chamber 12 before the chamber 11 has begun to exhaust. yIt will be seen' that owing to the fact that the abutment 46 is in contact with the periphery of the piston 16 before the inlet valve 29 has begun to admit steam into the chamber 12, said steam on entering said chamber cannot pass around through said chamber in a direction opposite to the direction indicated by the arrows, Figs. 5 and 6. It will be understood that simultaneously with the moving o the valve 29 toward the left, the cam groove 64 acting on the cam roll 62 causes the cut-off valve to open. The steam entering the chamber 12 continues to rotate the piston 16 and the cycle of operations of the valves is similar to that described in connection with the first 180 of rotation of the shaft 24, it being understood that the exhaust from the chamber 12 also passes outwardly through the exhaust passage 17 after vthe projection 21 has passed said exhaust passage. 1t will be seen that owing to the formation oi the cam groove 64, each of the pistons receives live steam during 90 of rotation oi the shaft 24. When it is desired to cut off the supply o steam sooner, the cam groove 65 is brought into use in the following manner: The operator moves the rack 59 in the proper direction to rotate the head 57, thereby moving the cam roll 62 out of engagement with the cam groove 64 and simultaneously moving the cam roll 63 into engagement with the cam 65.

lt will be seen that the form of cam groove 65 is such that the chambers 11 and 12 receive live steam during 45 of rotation o their respective pistons, and, therefore, the steam is used more expansively than in the iirst instance when the cam roll 62 was in engagement with the cam groove 64. VIf it is desired that there shall be no cut-off at all, the operator moves the rack 59 in the proper direction to rotate the head 57 until neither oi the cam rolls 62 nor 63 is in engagement with its respective cam groove, the spring 66 then acts to hold the cut-off valve 53 in suchaposition that the port 54 remains in alinement with the inlet passage 55. In the use oi water to run the engine the cut-off valve 53 is, of course, maintained at all times in this latter position.

The casing 10 is preferably provided with oil passages 71, 71 which leads from an oil reservoir 72 to a plurality I oi oil recesses 73. The oil recesses 73 may be packed with any suitable absorbent material ii' desired.

Having thus described my invention,` what I claim and desire by Letters Patent to secure is:

1. In a rotary iluid pr'essure engine, a casing provided with ,two piston chambers, rotary pistons located in said chambers, respectively; means to direct uid toward said chambers alternately, four abutments arranged in pairs 'adjacent to each other, and means for moving each of said pairs alternately ln opposite directions, vsaid means acting,r to move said pairs alternately in the same direction.

2. In a rotary fluid. pressure engine, a casing' provided with two piston chambers, rotary pistons located in said chambers, respectively, each of said pistons provided with a projection extending from its respective periphery, means .to direct fluid toward said chambers alternately, four ahutments-arranged in pairs adjacent to each other,

and means for moving each of said pairs alternately in opposite directions, said means acting to move said pairs alternately in the same direction.

3. In a rotary fluid pressure engine, a casing provided with two piston cham'bers, bylindrical rotary pistons located in'said chambers, respectively, each of said pistons provided with a projection extending from its respective periphery, a valve chest, an admission valve located in said valve chest, said valve adapted to admit `fluid to said cham# bers alternately, four abutments arranged in pairs adjacent to each other, and means for moving each of said pairs alternately in `opposite directions, said means acting to move said pairs alternately in the same direction.

el. In a rotary fluid. pressure engine, a casing provided with two piston chambers, rotary pistons located in said chambers, respectively, -two slides arranged adjacent to each. other. said slides adapted to reciprocate longitudi` nally of the axis of said pistons, two abutments carried by each of said slides, respectively. and means for movingv eachof said slides alternately in opposite directions, said means acting to move said slides alternately in the same direction.

5. In a rotary fluid pressure engine, a casing provided with two piston chambers, rotary pistons located in said chambers, respectively, two slides arranged adjacent to each other, said slides adapted to reciprocate longitudinally of the axis of said pistons, two abutments carried b v each of' said slides, respectively, means for moving each of said slides alternately in opposite directions, said means acting to move said slides alternately in the same direction, and a valve adapted to admit fluid to said chambers alternately.

G. in a rotary fluid pressure engine, a casing provided with two piston chambers. rotary pistons located in said chambers. respectively, two slides arranged adjacent to each other. said slides adapted to reciprocate longitudinally of the axis of said pistons, two abutments carried by each of said slides. respectively, means for moving each of szlid slides alternately in opposite directions, said vmeans arl-ing to move said slides alternately in the' same direc'- tion. and a reciprocatory valve adapted to admit fluid to said chambers alternately,

7. In a rotary fluid pressure engine, a casing provided with two piston chambers, rotary pistons located in said chambers, respectively, two slides arranged adjacent to each other. said slides adapted to reciprocate longitudinally otthe axis of said pistons, two abutments carried by each ot said slides, respectively,` means for moving each of said slides alternately in opposite directions, said means actingl to move said slides alternately in the same direcA fion, and a valve adapted to admit fluid to said chambers alternately. said valve being fast to one of said slides.

b'. ln a rotary fluid pressure engine. a casing provided with two piston chainbers, rotary pistons vlocated in said chambers 1'c;-:pectively. means to ldirect fluid toward said chambers alternately, two abutments movable, respectively, into and out of contact with the periphcries 0f said pistons, a` cut-olt valve, a cam roll operatively connected to said cut-oli valve, and a cam which said ca m roll normally engages, said cam roll being adapted to be moved into and out of engagement with said cam.

l). in a rotary fluid pressure engine, a casing provided with two piston chambers, rotary pistons located in saidchambers alternately,

cam rolls may be moved into and tively, and means to rock said head on said valve, wherebyy said cam rolls may be moved into with said cams, respectively.

i1. In a rotary fluid pressure engine, a casing provided with two piston chambers, rotary pistons located in said chambers, respectively, means to direct fluid toward said chambers alternately, four abutments arranged in pairs adjacent to each other, means for moving each of said pairs alternately in opposite directions, said means acting to move said pairs alternately in the same direction, a cnt-ott valve, a cam roll operatively connected to said cut-off valve, and a cam which said cam roll normally engages, said cam roll being adapted to be moved out of engagement with said cam,

12. In a rotary fluid pressure engine, a casing provided with two piston chambers, rotary pistons located in said chambers, respectively, means to direct fluid toward said chambers alternately, four abutments arranged in pairs adjacent to each other, means for moving each of said pairs alternately in opposite directions, said means acting to move said pairs alternately in the same direction, a cut-olf valve, a cam roll operatively connected to said cut-off valve, a cam which said cam roll normally engages, and means to move said cam roll out of engagement with said cam.

13. In a rotary iluid pressure engine, a casing provided with two)piston chambers, rotary pistons located in said chambers, respectively, means to direct tiuid toward said four abutments arranged in pairs adjacent to each other, pairs alternately in opposite directions, said means acting to move said pairs alternately in the same direction, a slidable cut-ofi. valve, a head rotatably connected to said valve, two cam rolls journaled on said head, ,two `cams which said cam rolls aref adapted to engage, respectively, and means to rock said head on said valve, wherebysaid out of engagement with and out of engagement said cams, respectively.

141 In a rotary fluid pressure engine, a casing provided with two piston chambers, cylindrical rotary pistons located in said chambers, respectively, each of said pistons provided with a projection extendin from its respective periphery, a valve chest, an admission valve located in said valve chest, said valve adapted to admit fluid to said chambers alternately, four abutments arranged in pairs adjacent to each other, means for moving each of said pairs alternately in opposite directions, said means acting to move said pairs alternately in the same direction, a cut-olf valve, a cam roll operatively 'connected to said cut-olf valve, and a cam which said, cam roll normally engages, said cam roll being adapted to be moved out of engagement with said cam.

15. In a rotary fluid pressure engine, a casing provided with two piston chambers, rotary pistons located in said chambers, respectively, two -slides arranged adjacent to each other, said slides adapted to reciprocate longitudr. nally of the axis of said pistons, two abutments carried by each of said slides. respectively, means for moving each of said slides alternately in opposite directions, said means acting to move said slides alternately inthe same direc? tion, a cut-ott valve, a cam roll operatively connected to said cut-off valve, and a cam which said camroll normally engages, said camfroll being adapted to be' moved out of engagement with said cam. f'

ln testimony whereof l have hereunto presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM H. HooKEn.

set my hand in Witnesses:

l ARTHUR -I. SWnNsoN, BERTHA C. FRANCIS.

means for Amoving each of said- 

